The Diamondbacks expect to activate catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchiawhen he is first eligible on July 28. The veteran backstop has been on the disabled list since July 17 (retroactive to July 11) due to a strained muscle in his neck.

Manager Chip Hale said the team will carry three catchers--along with Oscar Hernandez and Welington Castillo--once Saltalamacchia makes his return, according to FoxSports.com.

Diamondbacks catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained muscle in his neck. Saltalamacchia has been playing sparingly since being acquired by the D-Backs at the end of May.

In 20 games (16 starts) with Arizona, the veteran backstop is batting .213 with one home run. Outfielder Ender Inciarte was activated from the DL to take Saltalamacchia's spot on the roster.

Saltalamacchia first felt the neck issue when the team was in Texas early last week. But he did indicate he does not expect to miss much time with the injury, according to MLB.com.

"Is it three out of five, is it every other day? I don't know right now," Hale said. "I think they'll sort of play their way into it."

Castillo was acquired by the Diamondbacks from Seattle in a six-player trade that involved Mark Trumbo. Arizona will be the third team he's played for this season. After starting more than 100 games in 2013 and 2014, the 28-year-old catcher has had only 12 starts between the Cubs and the Mariners this season.

"It's hard because it's new," Castillo said. "Everything happening to me now is new. I've never been in this role."

Saltalamacchia signed a minor-league deal with Arizona in May and was promoted to the majors from Triple-A in late May. He has five hits in his first 19 at-bats with the Diamondbacks this season, including a home run on Thursday.